By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
African National Congress (ANC) President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed the Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union’s (POPCRU) 10th National Congress in Durban.
Over 1,000 delegates representing its various structures and the criminal justice cluster were all in attendance.
Popcru last elected new leadership in 2019.
Ramaphosa told delegates that, “millions of South Africans have been raised out of absolute poverty and now have housing and access to electricity, water, sanitation and other basic needs.
“For example, the percentage of households in formal dwellings rose from 78 percent in 2011 to 89 percent in 2022. Many more of our people have houses.”
However, much more needs to be done.
The president said, “the creation of a capable developmental state is fundamental to the transformation of our society and to further improve the lives of our people.”
And integral to a developmental state is a capable criminal justice system that can effectively deal with crime and corruption.
Under difficult conditions, ANC government is working to build such a criminal justice system, added Ramaphosa.
“Tackling crime is fundamentally about people’s well-being and sense of security. But it is also important for economic and social development. Creating a safe environment for people to fully participate in economic and social life is non-negotiable. Our ANC government will therefore continue to expand the necessary human and other resources to ensure people are safe and feel safe.”
POPCRU has a vital role in ensuring that South Africa is a safe place free of crime. The union and its members must be part of refining the country’s approach and philosophy to fighting crime, Ramaphosa said.
“The people of South Africa expect the members of POPCRU, as with all members of the police and correctional services, to be fully committed and focused on combating criminals. The people look to the members of this union to defend them and to serve them.”
Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) President Zizamele Cebekhulu has called for an end to government austerity measures. Delivering his address at the opening of the union’s national congress in Durban, Cebekhulu says these measures are crippling the poor and middle class and worsening inequality in South Africa.
He says it is hampering quality service delivery due to the moratorium on filling vacancies in the public service.
Cebekhulu says South Africa should rather look for innovative ways to stimulate the economy after the devastating impact of COVID-19. He suggests higher taxes on the rich and smarter resource allocation in public service.
“Cabinet should abandon the litany of perks to which it feels entitled. The government should also slash the number of ministers from 28 to 20. Slash deputy ministers from 34 to 5. As well as reconsider the 10 000 councilors loitering about dysfunctional municipalities.”
Cebekhulu says South Africans should not pay the price for corruption and state capture so that the government can service its debt.
Meanwhile the Hawks are investigating a case of corruption and money laundering implicating current Police and Prisons Civil Rights Union (Popcru) treasurer Thulani Nsele and former prisons boss and notorious Popcru enabler Khulekani Sithole.
The investigation arose from a criminal complaint lodged by Willem Petrus Venter in his capacity as the operational co-ordinator at the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC).
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Video Courtesy of SABC.